Cabinet for phonographs



Aug. .18, 1936. T. H. BEARD ET AL 2,051,792

CABINET FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTORS. 1' fieodore H.,Beard .Leiami .D. jVbmforL jo/zr E. lien/midiZ14, M v ATTORNEYS CABINET FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1935 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Theodore H. Beard Leland JlJVm-on M 'KTTORNEYSCABINET FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet s I g IIIIII], III! 1 39 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII E v a /6 5 i INVENTORS1718011016.? fifleard Lelan D-N Patented Aug. 18, 1936 CABINET FOR-PHONOGRAPHS Theodore H. Beard, Leland D. Norton, and John E. Renholdt,Bridgeport, Conn, assignors to Dictaphone Corporation, New York, N. Y.,a

corporation of New York Application March 2, 1935, Serial No. 9,058

dictation. 7 Referring to the drawings, in which similar ref- 5 One ofthe objects is to provide a cabinet of the erence characters refer tosimilar parts throughcharacter described, the upper portion of which isout the different views, a phonograph cabinet is open to the front togive access to the machine shown comprising a base III, a loweraccessory supported within, the cabinet having a closure containersection or chamber II and an upper which, when shut, conforms to thegeneral conphonograph container section or chamber [2. The 10 tour ofthe cabinet, completely enclosing and probase l0 may be formed of sheetmetal, preferably tecting the machine from dust and injury, and iron orsteel, die-pressed to the desired shape. to employ therewith a machinesupport movable Section ii may also be made from sheet iron or withinthe cabiiiet to facilitate the unobstructed steel die-pressed in one ormore parts and joined manipulation of the closure and the convenient iny Su table manner, iv n efe operation of the machine. ably the parts arewelded together, the joints A further object is to provide simple andeffeeground smooth and the whole suitably enameled. tive means'for'shifting the said support in re- This said lower section ii is formed inthe shape sponse to manipulation of the cabinet closure. A of a tan ulabox of a w dt greater than its further object is to provide means forrendering depth and of a height e t than its h. 20 the machine operableor inoperable according as and mprises a back plate e P tes the closureoccupies an open or a closed position. and front plate Front Plate '5 13Provided A further object is to provide a cabinet of the it a lar e rctan ular p nin ll to the sid character described provided with simpleand edges 01 which are hhiged P of folding doors convenient means forsupporting and retaining each provided w a handle 0 a d o i 25 papers,such as letters or other documents, within molly held in .olosedPosition. as S own in the cabinet. by means of spring detent members 2i.Beneath Other objects will be in part obvious a d i the base-l0 aremountedsuitable casters 22 and part pointed out hereinafter, above thebase l0 within the chamber H is pro- The invention accordingly consistsin the fea- Video Shelf which ay co v tly be used 30 tures ofconstruction, combinations of elements, for the Storage of Variousphonograph accesand arrangements of parts as will be exemplified soliesand equipment in the structure to be hereinafter described and Within hlower portion of the cabinet. behind the scope of the application ofwhich will be ine oo Opening there is provided a recorddicated in thefollowing claims. 1 cylinder rack as indicated at 24. The specific 35 Inthe accompanying drawings inwhich is form of rack illustrated hereinforms, however, shownone of th various pgssible embodiments no part ofthe present invention. Y of our invention: v It should be noted that theupper edge of the Fig. 1 is a front elevation f th cabinet show frontcabinetplate I6 is at a lower level than 40 mg the closure for thephonograph h b in the upper edges of back plate I 3 and side plates 40open positi n, i hi h position access may be H and IS. The reason forthis construction will conveniently had to the phonograph for operabereferred to latertion of the same. This figure also shows the lowerReferring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the upper part of portion of the cabinetwith doors open, in which the cabinet enclosing the phonograph chamberposition they give access t a rack f r supporting comprises a rigidhooded section 33 secured to 45 record-cylinders, portions f the rackbeing the back and side walls of the lower cabinet porbroken away toshow certain electrical connec tion T rigid 33 has a curved back tionsand equipment; wlall Eta? lgwe}: part olfawliclli is dgspozed in theFig: 2 is a cross-section on line 22 1' p ane o 8 M ate t e ca me the iwith the c1 osure for the upper g i l' curving forwardly from said planeso that its updoors for the lower portion in shut position the per edge35 tapes toward the from F the ctabine-t (1 lies in a plane disposedsubstantially midway open position of the closure for the phonograph anbetween the front and back of the cabinet. This chamber being shown indot-and-dash linesi hooded section 33 is also provided with side walls 3Is an enlarged elevatiim of the as formedintegrally with the curved wallat, 55 phonograph suplmrt and Operating mechanism which extend forwardlywith their. front edges therefor;- forming continuations of edge 35. Thehooded Fig. 4 s a upp r P View of the m section 33 is preferably an ironcasting provided Fi 5 is a o m p n View ofa portion of the with a bead,as indicated at 31, overlapping the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

. 14 This invention relates to cabinets, for phonegraphs and moreparticularly to a cabinet for supporting, protecting and makingconveniently operable a'commercial phonograph for recording Fig. 6 is apartial cross-section taken on line 6"6 ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line of Fig. 4.

continuous front edge 35 of the section.

will be seen that the phonograph chamber is open to the front of thecabinet.

A hooded closure 38 is provided to complete the cabinet. This is also acasting having a curved front wall 39 and plane side walls 40, which attheir lower edges-terminate slightly below the line of the upper edgesof the side plates I4, l5 of the lower cabinet section and extendrearwardly to meet the forwardly facing edge of the rigid hooded section33. This hooded closure, in closed position, fits within the beading 37and abuts against the edges of the section 33. A The hooded closure isof a width to permit its fitting without leaving any substantial gapbetween the side plates Id, l5 of the lower cabinet section. Extendingrearwardly from the interior of the side walls 40 of the hooded closure38 are a pair of lugs 4! which are pivotally mounted as at interiorly ofthe side walls 36 of the rigid hooded section 33. A handle is furnished,as at 43, for raising and lowering the hooded closure. When swung downfrom the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 6, thecurved front of the hooded closure passes downwardly within the cabinetbeneath the phonograph chamber.

Since the said closure terminates at apoint above the upper edge of thefront plate l6, the closure has clearance enough to assume the openposition, see Fig. 6. In order that, in the closed position of theclosure 38, an open space will not be left between the lower edge of theclosure and the upper edge of plate l6; a flap 44 is hinged to the loweredge of the closure, as indicated at 65.

wall I3 is a bracket 46 supporting a rubber bumper 47 adapted when theclosure is swung to its lower position to engage the flap M and deflectit from its normal position of alignment with the hood surface 39 inorder that the lower edge of said hood surface 39 may swing back to apredetermined position closely adjacent the rear wall l3 of the cabinet.One or more springs 54 normally hold flap and closure in alignment. Apair of tension springs 48 aremade fast attheir lower ends to the lugs4| by means of pins 49 and their other ends are made fast to pins 50extending inwardly from the side walls 36 of the rigid hood member 33.These springs, during movement of the hooded closure from closed to openor from open to closed position, swing past the pivots 42 and thus'serve to hold the hooded closure in either' open or closed position.

A rigid phonograph support or shelf is shown at 52, Figs. 2, 4 and 5.This comprises a plate horizontally disposed in the cabinet at a levelbelow the juncture of the rectangular section of the cabinet with thehooded portion. Plate 52 is bent upwardly at its sides to providetriangular supporting members 53 and is also upturned at its rear edgeto provide a flange 54 which is secured to the back of the cabinet bymeans of screws 55. At their rear ends thevsides 53 are bent toward thecenter line of the shelf to provide flanges 56 lying in the same planeas the flange 54, and these flanges 56 are also bolted to I Y the backof the cabinet by means of bolts 51. The

7 posed side plates 59 rigidly joined by a cross plate By reference toFigs. 3, 4.and 7 it will be seen that each of the plates 59 is providedwith an integrally formed ball race 6| cooperatively arthe keeperplates.

ranged with respect to a lower ball race 62 formed in the shelf 52. Aball bearing assembly comprising a keeper plate 63 and a plurality ofball bearings 64 is interposed between the shelf 52 and each of thecarriage plates 59, with the balls in cooperative engagement with therespective ball races. By means of these bearing assemblies the carriageis slidably mounted upon the shelf so that it may move backwardly andforwardly thereon without friction. The ball keeper plates 63 preventdisplacement of the individual ball bearings and are themselvespermitted a certain amount of movement backwardly and forwardly withrespect to the shelf, which movement is limited by means of studs 65secured to the shelf 52 and extending upwardly through slots 66 in Thesestuds 65 also cooperate with slots 61 formed in the carriage plates 59to limit the forward and backward movement of the carriage. The carriageis also provided with upstanding flngers 58 surrounded by suitableresilient material such as rubber tubing, as at 69, which fingers serveto hold the phonograph firmly upon the carriage. show the phonograph asactually seated upon the carriage since the positioning function of themembers 68, 69 is obvious. The position of the phonograph in'the cabinetis, however, shown in Fig, 1. It should be noted that the corrugationsforming the ball races Bl provide seats for the bottom of the phonographcasing which otherwise is unsupported by the carriage.

This invention provides means for moving the carriage forwardly to placethe phonograph in convenient position for operation when the hoodedclosure is swung downwardly within the cabinet. The forward position isshown in Fig. 6 while Figs. 2 and 4 show the carriage in its rearwardposition. A pair of leaf springs 10 frictionally engage the bottom ofthe cross member 60 when the carriage is in its rearward position, toprevent accidental shifting thereof. The means for moving the carriagecomprises a lever system, indicated generally by the numeral II. Thislever system is pivotally supported as by means'of a bolt 12 upon abracket 13 secured to the underside of the rigid shelf 52, and comprisesa horizontal arm 14 extending toward the center of the shelf and closelyadjacent the underside of the shelf and an arm 15 made fast at the lowerend of the stud and extending away from the center of the shelf. .Tothis arm 15 is pivotally secured an extension arm 16 pivoted at 11 andad- It has been thought unnecessary to justably secured to arm 15 bymeans of bolt 18 and slot 19, see Fig. 5. I

At its left end, as seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the lever arm 14 isprovided with a pin extending upwardly through a curved slot 8| in theshelf 52 and throughaislot 62 formed in the cross member 60 ofthecarriage. The right end of the lever arm extension 16 is providedwith a downwardly extending stud 83 positioned in the path of movementof the hooded closure when the latter is swung to its open position andadapted to be moved rearwardly by the rear edge of said closure in sucha way and to such a degree as to move the phonograph carriage forward torender the phonograph conveniently accessible and operable. A tensionspring 84 extends between a pin 85, extending downwardly from theunderside of the shelf 52, to the end of a pin 86 rigidly mounted .withrespect to the lever system. When the carriage is mo '53 forward inresponse to the opening of the hooded closure, this spring is stretchedand serves to return the carriage to its rearward position when thehooded closure is again swung to its closed position.

It will be understood that the phonograph for which this cabinet isparticularly adapted is an electricallyoperated one wherein thephonograph drive is accomplished by means of an electric mo-r tor, aconstruction well known in the art. Such a phonograph is shown at I illin Fig. 1. In order to provide electrical connections from the exteriorof the cabinet to the phonograph motor the cabinet is equipped with aplug-and-socket conconnector Bl to a contact of connector 88, and a wire92 connected at one end to the other contact of connector 81 and at itsother end to a contact of a switch assembly 93. Another contact of saidswitch is connected to a second contact of connector 88 by means of awire 94. The connection between connector 88 and the motor may be madeby means of a duplex cord 95 having suitable terminals adapted tocooperate with plugand-socket connector 88 and a similar connector 96 onthe phonograph.

The switch 93 may be of any suitable construc-' tion comprising anymeans for bridging the switch contacts, which means, not shown, isattached to a plunger 97. Pivotally' mounted in operative relation tothis plunger, as by means of a screw 93, Fig. 2, is a lever 99, Figs. 1and 2 having a short arm I09 adapted to engage the upper end of plunger9'! to depress the same into contact position. The lever has anupstanding arm IOI which normally tilts forwardly from a verticalposition toward the front of the cabinet. This position is shown in fulllines in Fig. 2. When the hooded closure 38 is swung to its openpositionits lower edge engages the upper end of the lever arm IM and swings itrearwardly to the dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. 2 inwhich'position the circuit to the motor is closed. When the hoodedgraph. This is easily accomplished when the closure is returned to itsclosed position the,lever 99 is swung in the opposite direction topermit the plunger 9'? to return to its raised position and open themotor circuit. It will be understood that the plunger 91 is raised toits open position by any suitable spring within the switch, not shown inthe present instance as such constructions are 'well known. A spring I09tends to hold lever arm l0! in its forward position.

It is sometimes found convenient to keep letters or other documentswithin the cabinet. For this purpose in the present embodiment of theinvention the rigid rear hood portion 33 has secured upon the innersurface thereof near the top a curved plate I02. This plate provides apair of inwardly extending curved pins I03 spaced apart in a horizontaldirection. The letters 'or other 'papers to be filed in the cabinet arepunched near their upper edge with holes spaced similarly. to

from the hooks-to hang down behind the phonophonograph is in its forwardposition. In order that the lower ends of the suspended papers maybeheld closely against the back of the cabinet, a retaining plate I04 ispivotally mounted as by hinges I05 upon the rear flange 54 of the shelf52. This plate will'swing forwardly as far as the frame of thephonograph will permit when the phonograph occupies its forwardposition. When the phonograph moves rearwardly in the cabinet theretaining plate will be shoved back against the suspended papers, thusholding them tightly in position against the back of the cabinet.

Referring again to the plate I02 it will be seen that at its upper endthere extends forwardly a pair of hook members I06, see Figs. 1 and 2,which provide supports for the phonograph mouthpiece Ill and speakingtube-H2, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The phonograph used may be ofa well-known type having a mouthpiece supporting hook I01 upon which themouthpiece is ordinarily hung when the machine is not being used. Thishook, in a manner well known in the art, is connected with a motorswitch (not shown) within the phonograph in such a way that when themouthpiece is hanging upon the hook the said motor switch is open, theswitch being automatically closed upon removal of the mouthpiece fromthe hook to set the machine motor in operation. When the front closureof the cabinet phonograph chamber is open, the phonograph will occupyits forward position in the cabinet and the cabinet switch 93 will be ina closed-circuit condition. Under such conditions, in order to use themachine, it is only necessary to take the'mouthpiece from the phonographhook I01 and proceed to record in the usual manner. When the operatorhas no further immediate use for the phonograph the mouthpiece, insteadof being replaced upon the phonograph hook Nil, will be supported uponthe. cabinet hooks I06. Under these conditions the phonograph motorwould normally continue to run. However, as soon as the hooded closurefor the front of the the cabinet switch 99 will be open-circuited so 4that operation of the phonograph motor will immediately cease. When theoperator again desires to use the machine the front closure is drawndown causing the phonograph to move forwardly with its carriage to aconvenient position, the phonograph immediately becoming energized bythe closing of the switch 93. The operator may then take the mouthpieceand speaking tube from off the hooks I06 and proceed with dictation.Should it then be desired to stop dictating for a short period themouthpiece may be returned to the phonograph switch hook I01 todisconnect the motor circuit and stop motor operation.

Unused or used record-cylinders maybe kept in the record rack, theindividual cylinders being easily withdrawn from their cartons, whichare supported by the rack.

It will be seen that there is provided a construction of an essentiallypractical nature in which the several objects of this invention areattained. 1

As many possible embodiments may be made of' the above invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is tobe understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying dra ings is to beinterpreted as illusthe said pins. Thus the papers may be suspended j ina limiting sense.

1. 1 naca inet having a compartment open -to the fro'ntof the cabinet,in combination, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted toswing upwardly to a position completing the enclosure of saidcompartment and downwardly to 4' a position beneath said compartment toexpose the interior thereof, and a shelf extending forwardly from theback of said cabinet for supporting a phonograph within saidcompartment.

2. In a phonograph cabinet having a compartment open to the front of thecabinet, in combination, a support defining the bottom of saidcompartment, a carriage for supporting a phonograph-mounted movably onsaid support, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted tobe swung upwardly to close said compartment a d downwardly beneath saidsupport to expose t interior of saient, and means opby said for shiftingsaid carriage forwar y upon said support when said closure is swung toits lower position.

3. In a phonograph cabinet having a compartment open to the front of thecabinet, in combination, a support defining the bottom of said com-.partment, a carriage for supporting a phonograph mounted movably on,said support, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted-tobe swung upwardly to close said compartment and downwardly beneath saidsupport to expose the interior of said compartment, means operable bysaid closure for shifting said carriage forkeeper plate.

wardly upon said supportwhen said closure is swung to itslower position,and means for shiftingsaid carriage rearwardly upon said support whensaid closure is swung to its upper position.

4. In a, cabinet having a compartment open to the front of the cabinet,in combination, a closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted toswingupwardly to a position completing the enclosure of said compartmentand downwardly to a position beneath said compartment to expose theinterior thereof; and resilient means for bolding said closure in eitherof its said positions.

5. In a phonograph cabinet, in combination, a movable closure for thecabinet, means for supporting a phonograph within. the cabinetcomprising ,a' rigid shelf and a carriage movable thereon, africtionless bearing interposed between said shelf and carriage, meansfor automatically shifting said carriage upon movement of said closure,and means for limiting the movement thereof.

6. In a phonograph cabinet, in combination, means for supporting aphonograph comprising a rigid shelf. and a carriage movable thereon, africtionless bearing assembly including a keeper plate-and a pluralityof balls interposed between said shelf and carriage, means for shiftingsaid carriage, means for limiting the movement thereof, and means forlimiting movement of said 7. In a phonograph cabinet,v in combination,means for supporting a phonograph comprising a rigid shelf and acarriage movable, thereon, a lever pivotally mounted on said shelf,means operatively connecting said lever to said carriage, a closurepivoted on said cabinet and adapted to be moved downwardly within saidcabinet to expose the interior thereof, and means on said leverpositioned in the path of movement of said closure for actuating saidlever to shift said carriage toward the front of said cabinet.

8. In a phonograph cabinet, in combination, means for supporting aphonograph comprising a rigid shelf and a carriage movable thereon, alever pivotally mounted on said shelf, means operatively connecting saidlever to said carriage,

a closure pivoted on said cabinet and adapted to be moved downwardlywithin said cabinet to expositioned in the path of' movement of saidclosure for actuating said lever to shift said carriage toward the frontof said cabinet, and means for returning said leverand carriage to theiroriginal positions.

9. In a cabinet, in combination, a horizontally disposed phonographshelf rigidly supported within said cabinet and extending forwardly fromthe back of said cabinet, a vertically disposed plate within saidcabinet having its lower edge mounted in hinged relation to said shelfadjacent the back, of the-cabinet to provide a movable retaining meansfor papers such as letters, documents, etc., and suspension means forsaid papers disposed above said retaining means.

10. In a cabinet having the front portion cut away to give access to theinterior thereof, in combination, a closure for said cut-away frontcomprising a hood pivotally mounted within said cabifiet and a dependinghinged flap, resilient mea s normally holding said flap in surfacealignment with'said hood, means for swinging said hood downwardly withinsaid cabinet, and means within said cabinet for deflecting said flapfrom its normal position to enable said hood to move to a predeterminedposition within said cabinet. Y

11. In combination, a cabinet, anelectrically operated phonographmounted within said cabi-. net, an operating circuit for saidphonograph, a switch mounted within said cabinet and operativelyassociated with said circuit, a hood mounted'on said cabinet and movableto an open or to a closed position, and switch-actuating meansposition;

12. In combination, a cabinet,an electrically operated phonographmounted within said cabinet, an operating circuit for said phonograph, aswitch mounted within said cabinet and operatively associated with saidcircuit, a hood mounted on said cabinet and movable to an open or to aclosed position, switch-actuating means within said cabinetcooperatively arranged with respect to said hood to render saidphonograph operable when said hood is moved to said open position, andmeans for actuating said switch to render said phonograph inoperablewhen said hood is moved to closed position.

13. In a cabinet, in combination, a movably mounted support for aphonograph, means for shifting said support, an electrically operatedphonograph mounted on said support, an operating circuit for saidphonograph including means for controlling said circuit, and a movableclosure for said cabinet adaptedoperatively to actuate saidsupport-shifting means and said circuit-controlling means.

14. In a cabinet having a compartment opening to the front of thecabinet, a. closure pivoted within said compartment and adapted to swingupwardly to a position completing the enclosure of said compartment anddownwardly to a position beneath said compartment to expose the interiorthereof, and means within said compart-' ment for supporting aphonograph. z

THEODORE H. BEARD. LELAND D. NORTON.. JOHN E. RENHOLDT.

